Page 87 of In the Line of Ire

"Ithought I saw something strange so I went over to take a look," Isaid, not entirely sure if it was true or a lie. I did seesomething strange and illegal.

"Alittle lady like you went to take a look over there all byherself?" The chief raised his eyebrows. "Looks like your rewardwas a nasty crack to the head."

"Someonehit me and knocked me out. Before you ask, no, I didn't seewhom."

"Youshould have called the police and allowed them to handle it. Unlessit was something personal?" he asked, staring down atme.

"I don'tthink so," I replied.

"Itlooks to me like someone wanted to give you a clear warning. Idon't think I need to tell you that the smell in the air is purekerosene. Someone poured it on the front seats and lit your car up.Combine that with you getting knocked out and I'd say it's prettypersonal."

"Mykeys!" I said, reaching for my jacket pocket.

Thechief held up a set of keys. "My guys found these on the sidewalk.Are they yours?"

"Yes," Isaid, reaching out so the chief could drop the cluster of keys andfobs into my palm. "Thanks for finding them."

"Youmight want to check and see that all the keys are accounted for.Obviously, you won't need the car key again but you might want toreplace any locks the other keys fit just as aprecaution."

"Ireally doubt an arsonist would take the time to copy the keys ofsomeone they don't even know," said Solomon.

"Are youso sure they don't know you?" asked the chief. He fixed me with along, cool look. "Whacking you on the head and torching your cardoes seem pretty personal."

I lookedat Solomon and he stared back. The answer was clear: neither of uscould say for certain that it wasn't personal.

~

"You'regood to go," said the nurse, stepping back.

"You'resure I don't need stitches?"

"That'sthe third time you asked me. What are you? Some kind of stitchjunkie?"

Ifrowned. "No, I'm just pleased I don’t need them."

"Glad tobe a harbinger of good news. It's not a deep wound fortunately, butyou must keep it clean. Take an over-the-counter painkiller if youget anymore headaches. Also, please make sure all your paperwork isin order on your way out," she reminded me before sheleft.

"Ishould get rewards points for coming here so often," Isaid.

"Whatkind of reward do you want?" asked Solomon.

"Airmiles. No. Champagne. No. Restaurant gift cards," I decided. "Howmany visits do you think it would take to have a whole mealcomped?"

"Probably two visits a week for the next year with a slidingpain scale."

Iwrinkled my nose as I contemplated that. "Maybe not." I hopped offthe bed and we walked together through the emergency room into thereception area. After I signed the paperwork, we exited into thecool night air. "I still smell of smoke," I said. "I need to take ashower."

"Weshould check in with the team first. Special Agents Maddox andSadiq want to know that you're okay. And your mother called threetimes asking who burnt out your car."

"Wait,"I interrupted, stopping and turning to face him, sure my panic musthave shown. "How does my mother know what happened?"

"TheMontgomery phone tree has been working overtime tonight. Your momalready has photos and a statement from the fire department;suffice to say, she knows just as much about what happened as wedo."

"Shedoesn't know that Charlaine Beck is involved. There's no way sheisn't connected." I used my fingers to palpate the small bump onthe back of my head. All that happened was I had to have my headglued back together. I was lucky, I knew that. If I'd been hit anyharder, my skull could have fractured or I could have even beenkilled. Someone intended to incapacitate me rather than kill me, orperhaps they weren't strong enough to complete the task. Whateverthe reason, I was simply grateful to be alive. Being alive meant Icould still catch the perps. "We should ask Lucas to check all thecameras in the area. My attack might have been caught ontape."

"Alreadyon it," said Solomon. He slipped his hand around mine and tightenedhis fingers as we crossed the parking lot to his car. Delgado satin the passenger seat with his cellphone to his ear. When he saw usapproaching, he hopped out and held the door open forme.

"How'sthe head feel?" he asked.

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